Sydenham regains winning way with Bubba Bowl triumph

October 11, 2013

By CLAUDE SCILLEY

SYDENHAM — Sydenham Golden Eagles ended a touchdown drought that extended through more than nine quarters of football Thursday night, and they went on to defeat the visiting Bayridge Blazers 23-0 in the annual Bubba Bowl football game, the first game played at the newly refurbished McLellan Field.

“Our offence has been struggling for the last couple of weeks,” said Sydenham coach Mike Love, whose team hadn’t scored a touchdown since a season-opening 17-7 win over Holy Cross.

“We moved the ball a little more consistently (tonight). We were able to run the ball a little better. We kept some drives going with some good runs.

“Our (offensive) line made some holes and got some good pushes. I was happy to see that.”

The Eagles were possibly inspired by their play at the end of a 7-0 loss last week at La Salle, where they moved the football better in the final two minutes than at any other point in the game.

“We had a little spark at the end, and maybe that did roll into this week,” Love said, “We talk about trying to get better every week and taking something (positive) from every game.

“They focused on having a good night tonight, having good things happen and starting to get the ball rolling in a positive direction. That’s what we asked the kids for, just to be positive and have a good night. Good things are starting to happen and hopefully we can build on that.”

Sydenham quarterback Dylan Fisher connected with Thomas Withey on a long TD pass in the final minute of the first quarter. Nate Thompson scored the winners’ other touchdowns, on runs of 15 yards, early in the second quarter, and 45 yards, a minute and a half before halftime.

Sydenham scored a safety on the kickoff after Thompson’s first touchdown and led 23-0 at the break.

The teams played a scoreless second half.

In the only Kingston Area Secondary Schools Athletic Association senior game next Thursday, La Salle, 3-1, will host Ernestown, 1-3. On Friday, Frontenac, 4-0, will play Sydenham, 2-2, at a site to be determined, while Holy Cross, 2-2, visits Bayridge, 0-5. Regiopolis Notre Dame will get the week off.